So this is Anubis! At least you can see her gorgous face properly on this picture. She is an Eurasian Lynx and lives a the SPEA (Sanctuary for Predators and Exotic Animals - Ansbach, Germany) since February. She hates cameras (like: "I hiss and spit at you if you point that thing at me" - hating) but I was lucky and got a photo nonetheless

If you want to know more about SPEA please visit their website: [link] or simply ask me. I'll be happy to answer any of your questions

Thank you This is such a nice comment It's shot through a fence - so if I took a step back she couldn't reach me anymore I work at the Sanctuary as a volunteer and thus I am allowed to get so close to the animals (very good for taking photos and pretty special. I can stand just a few inches away from tigers, lynxes and cougar.)About the technique: I got my camera as close to the fence as possible so it would "vanish" in the bokeh effect. Hoped that Anubis would stay put and not "attack" me and pushed my button

Woah that's so cool i wpuld love to do that sounds AMAZING YAY TIGERS! lol so glad she idn't attack eh? Hey would you mind doing me a favour? I'm not big and i'd love to have you watching me You don't have to but yeah! I'd really like your opion on my work

I love it there, too. The people are so great and the animals, too, of course I had a look through your gallery: It looks promising! Don't give up so easily. You only have been on DA for 4 months. I've been around for 4 years.A good way to gain more exposure is submitting your pictures to groups. and not just to one but to many groups It really helps a lot. Comment on photos you like - or on those you think could need a little improvement (people are always grateful for constructive critique). Another "watcher catcher" are projects: ever noticed how people who submit comics have so many watchers? You don't have to submit a comic, though. How about a little project like "the colors of fruit" or "natures beauty: what my camera caught just outside my door" You could turn these into series which are easy to realize Search for tutorials on DA on "how to photograph better" - you will find thousands. And many will sound alike. But repetition is good. Maybe something will stick.Don't try to improve everything at once. Focus on 1-2 things at a time. E.g. composition (easy to do with non-moving objects) or sharpness of the photo, how to get a good bokeh, how to get the right lighting....Get some inspiration on DA! Ask the people how they did the photo (like you did with me!) and maybe try to imitate it.And of course: Practice, Practice, practice (yea, I hate that saying, too, but it's so damn true)But above all this: Know your camera like your hand and arm and just have fun!Because after all DA should not be about how many watchers or favs you have but about the fun sharing your work with others and the joy when you do get a positive comment ((except if you want to be a profession: then DA is more about the watchers ))